Rebecca Paley

4.5 stars. This is less a political manifesto than a personal history, which is what I came for. Ilhan Omar here is charming, bright, and intrepid. Her father also emerges as a standout, a stalwart guide and defender of his daughter with a sharp wit. The way he works as a character reminds me a tiny bit of David Sedaris’s mother in his essays. But as the author describes her initiation into politics, from interpreting at a caucus for her grandfather as a teenager through organizing to her show more first electoral victories, this book also reveals what a privilege it is to have a functioning democracy (if we can keep it), and how fortunate this country is to draw some of the best and the brightest from around the world (again, if we can keep them). show less

A great biography of a great woman. Against all the odds, against much bigger bullies the small girl keeps winning. For me she appears to me a perpetual rebel - when it was rebellious for her not to wear hijab, she didn't; when it was rebellious to wear hijab, she started to wear it. Though, she actually links it more to her internal spiritual way in the book and there is more interesting discussion on what it means to be progressive AND Muslim. She is the same age as me and it is show more heart-breaking to think what she had to go through during her early school years in Somalia and in the refugee camp in Kenya, while I was growing up in peace and with enough food. People like her gives hope for a better future in America and the whole world.
I listened to the audiobook and she read it very naturally and enjoyably. show less

This book is unabashedly an autobiography of a 1%er who works with the 1%. If you're looking to read a story about someone who has overcome unimaginable hardship don't read this, read "Strength in What Remains," "Unbroken," or something by Ishmael Beah. However, if you'd like to get a glimpse into the life of someone who has truly found her calling -- and an admirable work ethic -- you may very well like this (especially if you enjoy fashion).

With a flair impeccable dressing, Betty ends up show more as Bergdorf Goodman's first personal shopper/stylist (her rise to this position is interesting after recently reading "The Confidence Code." Each step was way outside her comfort zone, she made mistakes, but she had the ability). Her only priority is what is right for the client -- and she won't let anybody buy something that doesn't look good on them or if they already own anything too similar: "I'm not in the business of stuffing closets with useless items -- indeed, my motto is this: I don't dress closets. I don't come to work to create fashion plates either. My role is to offer people permission: to be catered to individually, to treat themselves to something beautiful, to be important, to feel better."
At age 86 she still works 5 days a week.

This is a quick read which offers good insight about a level of service that is often missing in business today, and what a gift it is just to really listen to someone. show less

This book is one in a new series from AmericanGirl that focuses on real-life pioneering women. It presents a fairly straightforward biography of Clinton. As the target audience is elementary school-age children, the book does place some prominence on Clinton's childhood and how people and events shaped her from a young age. For instance, her mother encouraged her to stand up to a bullying peer, which instilled in Clinton a lifelong habit of not backing down in the face of critics. Another show more example is how her church encouraged young people to give back to their community by volunteering, which prompted Clinton to learn more about people in need and how to help them, shaping future policy concerns. Even if you don't agree with Clinton's politics, this emphasis on positive behaviors and responsibility, even at a young age, should be inspirational for the intended audience.

The remainder of the book goes over Clinton's adult life as a lawyer, wife, mother, First Lady, Senator, Secretary of State, and presidential candidate. Most of this is mentioned somewhat briefly in an effort to keep the book short and hold the attention span of young children. Controversial moments from her career are not mentioned at all, which is perhaps best for the youngest audience. (I think books aimed at upper elementary and above should address those, however.) On the whole, there is enough factual evidence here to help young children who have school assignments of a biographical nature.

The illustrations in the book don't do a whole lot for me. At times they look spot-on, but then at times they look nothing like the real-life persons they are meant to portray. They do work to break up the text a little though. There are also a handful of photographs at the end of the book. In addition, the backmatter includes a glossary, a timeline of important events in Clinton's life, and a brief one-page blurb about an everyday girl working to make her own political change. show less